Needle loom for pile fabrics

ABSTRACT

The tying needle of a needle loom producing a pile fabric by beating into the fell of the fabric groups of weft threads inserted into warp sheds including tight warp threads and loose pile warp threads, is reciprocated conforming to reciprocating movements of the reed. A stripper for the tying needle is operated in the same manner, and an arresting needle is provided for holding the first inserted weft thread of a group, releasing the same before the reed beats the group of weft threads into the fell of the fabric.

United States Patent Muller [54] NEEDLE LOOM FOR PILE FABRICS [72]inventor: Jakob Muller, 5262 Frick, Switzerland [22] Filed: June 8, 1971[21] Appl. No.: 151,092

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [58] Field of Search ..l39/25,26,l16,122,123, 139/127, 195, 124 R, 124 A 51 Dec. 26, 1972 12/1963White ..139/195 4/1969 Gotzetal. ..139/25 Primary Examiner-Henry S.Jaudon Attarney-Michael S. Striker 57 ABSTRACT The tying needle of aneedle loom producing a pile fabric by beating into the fell ofthefabric groups of weft threads inserted into warp sheds includingtight warp threads and loose pile warp threads, is reciprocatedconforming to reciprocating movements of the reed. A stripper for thetying needle is operated in the same manner, and an arresting needle isprovided for holding the first inserted weft thread of a group,releasing the same before the reed beats the group of weft threads intothe fell of the fabric.

[56] Rem-ewes Cited 10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS ar 3,079,955 3/1963 Moberg 139/25 q '16 8 g o SHEET 2 [IF 3 Fig. 2

PATENTEDnEcs m2 SHEEI 3 (IF 3 NEEDLE LOOM FOR PILE FABRICS BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION It is known that pile fabrics can be woven on full widthlooms as well as on manual looms in the following manner: at least twowarp parts are used of which one is a tight base warp part, and theother is a loose pile warp, or a pile warp part which can be loosened.The weft thread is inserted in groups of at least two weft threads at apredetermined distance from the preceding inserted groups of weftthreads, and from the fell of the fabric, respectively. When the lastthread of each group is inserted into the warp shed, the reed makes alarger stroke toward the fell of the fabric so that the last insertedgroup of wefts is firmly pushed against the fabric. Since the base warppart is tightly tensioned, it does not yield, and the inserted weftthreads slide over the base warp part toward the fell of the fabric. Thepile warp part, however, is taken along by the displaced group of weftthreads, due to the lower or temporarily reduced tension of the pilewarp, and forms a plurality of loops which are anchored by the firmlybeaten groups of weft threads. See U. S. Pat. No. 3,079,955.

This method of making woven pile fabrics can only be applied in shuttlelooms. If an attempt is made to make pile fabric on a needle loom, andparticularly on a ribbon loom, no uniform and properly formed loops areformed in the region of the edge of the woven fabric where the tyingneedle ties the inserted weft threads.

Since the pile warp threads closest to the tied edge, are not properlyanchored, loops are not properly developed owing to the small distanceof the weft threads.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the invention to provide aneedle loom, and particularly a needle loom for narrow fabrics, such asribbons, which is capable of making a pile fabric. Another object of theinvention is to improve a needle loom so that the pile warp threadsadjacent the tied fabric edge are pushed out in the same manner and tothe same degree as required for forming pile loops corresponding tothose formed by the other pile warp threads.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided for regulating theamplitude of the reciprocating movement of a tying needle toward andaway from the fell of the fabric, in at least one direction ofreciprocation so that the movement of the tying needle conforms to themovement of the reed. It is preferred to select the amplitudes of thereciprocation of the tying needle so that the end of the tying needle ismoved during the insertion of the first weft threads of a group of weftthreads, substantially to the place where the reed beats the respectivefirst weft threads, while during the last beating movement of the reed,by which the entire group of inserted weft threads is moved intoabutment with the fell of the fabric, the end of the tying needle ismoved to the fell of the fabric.

In order to prevent that loops accumulate on the tying needle during theinsertion of the first weft threads of each group of inserted weftthreads, which may cause disturbances in the cycle of operations, it isadvantageous to provide a stripper, for example in the form of a metalstrip, which strips the newly formed loop off the tying needle duringeach rearward movement of the tying needle, and preferably moves inaccordance with the movement of the reed.

In order to assure that at the edge of the fabric remote from the tiededge, the formation of pile loops takes properly place, the preferredembodiment of the invention provides an arresting needle on therespective other side of the fabric and warp sheds, which during theinsertion of the first weft thread of each group, moves to an operativeposition so that the inserted thread is laid about the arresting needle,and the inserted weft threads are held at the respective edge of thefabric at the desired distance from the fell of the fabric, so that theloop formation of the pile warp threads is facilitated.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary schematic sideview illustrating the foremost position of a tying needle in a needleloom at the beginning of the insertion of the weft threads of a group;

FIG. la is a side view illustrating the foremost position of a tyingneedle at the end of the insertion of the group of weft threads;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic side view corresponding to FIG. 1, butillustrating the foremost position of the typing needle while the reedmoves a group of inserted weft threads to the fell of the fabric;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view illustrating on an enlarged scale, anarresting needle and a stripper in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view corresponding to FIG. 3, butillustrating a different operational position; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic plan view of a needle loom providedwith a stripper and arresting needle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIGS. 1, 1a,and 2, a fabric 1 has a fell 2 at which warp part 3 and 3' are formedinto warp sheds. A reed 4 is provided for reciprocation toward and awayfrom the fell 2 of the fabric 1. The tying needle 5 is provided forreciprocation in warp direction toward and away from the fell of thefabric, and is mounted on a double armed lever 6 which is angularlymovable about a pivot 7, and has one end 8 connected with a linkage 9which includes a toggle lever pair 10, 10' pivotally connected at 12 formovement between the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Toggle lever 10is connected with a cam follower lever 11 whose roller 17 is urged by aspring into engagement with the rotary cam 16 while cam follower lever11 turns about a stationary pivot means 15. The joint 12 between togglelevers l0 and 10' is connected by link 13 with a cam follower lever 14connected to a stationary pivot 18 and carrying a roller 20 cooperatingwith a control cam Means 15, 16, 27, 11 are drive means connected by thetoggle levers 10, 10' and lever 6 with the tying needle 5. Levers 6, 10,10' are part of control means which include cam 19 and cam followermeans 14, 20, 13.

The drive means including cam 16 effect reciprocation of the tyingneedle, and the control means, including control cam 19, effect aregulation of the amplitude of reciprocation of tying needle 5.

During the insertion of the weft threads of each group of weft threadsby the weft inserting needle, which reciprocates across the warps in awarp shed, the reed 4.performs a partial beat-up or only moves to apoint or line which is spaced a predetermined distance from the fell 2of the fabric, and at the same time, the tying needle is only moved tothe positions shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. la in which position thehook-shaped end of the tying needle 5 is substantially aligned with thesimultaneously inserted weft thread. This is accomplished by the controlmeans including control cam 19, cam follower 14, 20, link 13 and togglelever 10, since cam follower means 14, is in the lowest positiontogether with joint 12 and toggle levers 10 and 10 which are alignedwith each other. The drive cam 16 and follower lever 11 are at thebeginning of the weft insertion in the right position shown in FIG. 1,and at the end of the weft insertion in the left position shown in FIG.la so that, when the toggle levers 10, 10 are aligned, the tying needle5 is prevented by lever 6 to move to the fell of the fabric.

In the position shown in FIG. 2, in which the reed performs a partialbeat-up or is moved far enough to slide the just inserted group of weftthreads to the fell 2 of the fabric, the tying needle 5 has moved aconforming increased distance. This is accomplished, although drive cam16 and cam follower means 11, 17 remain in the same position, by turningof the control cam 19 and angle of 180 so that the cam follower means14, 20 are raised and displace the joint 12 of the toggle levers 10, 10'upward whereby the toggle levers assume an angular position in which theends of the toggle levers approach each other causing a larger angularmovement of double armed lever 6 than in the position of FIG. 1 wherebythe tying needle 5 is moved so far rearward to the left that itshook-shaped end is located in close proximity to the fell 2 of thefabric.

The movement of the reed 4 is controlled in a similar I manner by twocams 32 and 36. The reed 4 swings angularly about a fixed shaft which isconnected by the joint 26 with a pair of toggle levers 27, 27 whosetoggle joint 28 is connected by a link 29 with a control lever 30 whichis mounted on a fixed pivot 31 and has a follower roller 33 in contactwith the cam track of cam 32.

Toggle levers 27, 27 are designed for a linear movement. For thispurpose, toggle lever 27' is mounted in a turnable guide body 34, andhas a follower roller 35 in rolling contact with the cam track of-cam36.

The control mechanism for the reed 4 operates in the following manner:During the insertion of the weft threads of each group, cam 32 pointsdownward so that control rod 30 moves the toggle joint 26 upward bymeans of line 29 so that the toggle levers 27, 27 are shortened. Due tothe rotation of cam 36, reed 4 swings from the position of FIG. 1a tothe partial beat-up position of FIG. 1, and does not reach the fell 2 ofthe fabric.

If an inserted group of weft threads is to be pushed to the fell 2, cam32 turns to the position shown in FlG. 2 so that toggle joint 28 ismoved downward and toggle levers 27, 27 spread to a greater length sothat reed4 moves with the group of weft threads to a full beat-upposition at the fell 2.

FIGS. 3 to 5 illustrate a stripper 24 located on the same side of thefabric as the tying needle 5 between the same and the warp sheds, and anarresting needle 21 located on the other side of the fabric 1 and thewarp shed. Arresting needle 21 has a transversely bent point at one end,and a bushing 22 at the other end which is supported on a shaft 23 forangular movement so that the point of arresting needle 21 moves betweenthe inoperative position shown in FIG. 4 and the operative positionshown in FIG. 3. Stripper 24 is connected to an eccentric pivot 37a onanother bushing 37 on shaft 23, so that reciprocation of bushing 37effects a movement of stripper 24 in the direction of the arrows x andy.

Shaft 23 of the arresting needle 21 carries a lever 37 with a roller 38rolling on the cam track of a cam 39. When cam 39 turns, arrestingneedle 21 moves from the position of FIG. 3 to the position of FIG. 4.

Lever 37 is connected by a link 40 with a double armed lever 41 whichswings about a shaft 42 to operate an angular link 43 secured tostripper 24 and operating the same.

During insertion of the first weft thread of a group of weft threads bythe weft inserting needle 50, see FIG. 5, the arresting needle 21 movesto the operative position shown in FIG. 3 due to the turning of cam 39to the position of FIG. 3 so that the inserted weft thread 44 is laid byweft inserting needle 50 about the pointed end of the arresting needle21 when the weft inserting needle 50 moves out of the warp shed. Sincethe first inserted weft threads are held by the arresting needle 21, theentire group of inserted weft threads cannot be displaced. When the lastweft thread of the group has been inserted, and directly before the reed4 move through a full beat-up stroke to move entire group into the fellof the fabric 2, the arresting needle 21 moves, due to further movesturning of cam 39, from the fabric to the inoperative position shown inFIG. 4, releasing the weft thread, so that the reed 4 can push the groupof inserted weft threads into the fell 2 over the entire width of thefabric, so that uniform pile loops are formed of the pile warp thread upto the edges of the woven fabric.

The stripper 24 which is preferably a narrow metal sheet strip, is inthe position shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 during the insertion of the firstweft threads of the group into the warp sheds. During the rearwardreciprocating stroke of the tying needle, stripper 24 strips the newlyformed loop. After the last weft thread of a group has been inserted,stripper 24 is moved in the direction of the arrow following thecorresponding rearward stroke of the tying needle 5, to the positionshown in FIG. 4. Since the tying needle 5 performs a larger stroke afterthe insertion of the last weft thread of the group, than during theinsertion of the proceding weft threads of the group, the stripper 24operates, after insertion of the last weft thread of a group of weftthreads, in the same manner as after the insertion of the preceding weftthreads of the group, and obtains a reliable stripping of the respectiveloop from the tying needle in the rearward position.

The drive means for operating the bushings 22 and 37 of the arrestingneedle 21 and of the stripper 24, for reed 4, and for tying needle 5 maybe differently con structed, and mechanism for reciprocating an elementis well known. However, the drive means and control means illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2 may be modified, and the toggle lever means and controlcam means 19, 20, could be replaced by a crank drive or the like.

Due to the operation of the tying needle in accordance with theinvention, it becomes possible to make on a needle loom, pile fabricswhich have uniform pile loops. The quality of the pile fabric is furtherimproved if the above-described arresting needle and stripper are alsoprovided.

It will be understood 'that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofneedle looms for pile fabrics differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in atying needle reciprocating conforming to the reciprocation of the reed,it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since variousmodifications and structural changes may be made without departing inany way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. Needle loom for pile fabrics, comprising a weft inserting needle onone side of said loom reciprocable into and out of warp sheds formed bytight warp threads and by loose warp threads, for inserting groups ofweft threads; reed means reciprocable in warp direction between a fullbeat up position for beating said groups of weft threads into the fellof the woven fabric and a partial beat-up position which leaves thefirst inserted weft threads of said group spaced from said fell of thefabric; a tying needle located at said one side of said warp sheds;drive means for reciprocating said tying needle in said warp direction;and control means connecting said drive means with said tying needle forvarying the magnitude of the amplitude of reciprocation of said tyingneedle at least in one direction to conform to the positions of saidreed means so that said tying needle has a first position substantiallyaligned with a weft thread in the partially beaten-up position, and asecond position substantially aligned with the fell of the fabric.

2. Needle loom as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means vary theamplitude of reciprocation of said tying needle so that the end of saidt ing needle moves during the insertion of the first weft reads of agroup to the line along which said reed means beats said first weftthreads, said line being spaced from the fell of the fabric, whileduring beating of the last weft thread of said group and of the entiregroup into the fell of the fabric, said end of said tying needle movesat least substantially to said fell of said fabric.

3. Needle loom as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means includerotary cam means, and linkage means including cam follower meanscooperating with said rotary cam means; and wherein said control meansinclude a pivotally mounted support lever fixedly connected with saidtying needle for reciprocation, toggle lever means connecting saidlinkage with said support lever, control cam means driven in timedrelation with said reed means, and control cam follower meanscooperating with said control cam means and connected with said togglelever means for varying the amplitude of reciproaction of said supportlever with said tying needle.

4. Needle loom as claimed in claim 1 comprising stripper means forstripping the newly formed loop from said tying needle during movementof the latter in said warp direction, toward the fell of the fabric.

5. Needle loom as claimed in claim 4 wherein said stripper meansincludes a metal strip located between said tying needle and said oneside of said warp sheds.

6. Needle loom as claimed in claim 4 including first operating means forreciprocating said stripper means to follow the movements of said tyingneedle. 7. Needle loom as claimed in claim 6 wherein the reciprocatingmovement of said stripper means is controlled by said operating means toconform to the movements of said reed means.

8. Needle loom as claimed in claim 6 and comprising an arresting needleon the other side of said warp sheds; and second operating means forreciprocating said arresting needle between an operative positionlocated in the reversing loop of the first inserted weft thread of agroup of weft threads, and an inoperative position retracted from saidreversing loop, said arresting needle being moved to said inoperativeposition before said reed means beats the respective group into the fellof the fabric.

9. Needle loom as claimed in claim 8 and including a shaft extendingacross said warp sheds, and first and second turnable bushings on saidshaft supporting said stripper means and said arresting needle on saidshaft for angular movement; and wherein said first and second operatingmeans are connected with said first and second bushings, respectively.

10. Needle loom as claimed in claim 1 and comprising an arresting needleon the other side of said warp sheds; and operating means forreciprocating said arresting needle between an operative positionlocated in the reversing loop of the first inserted weft thread of agroup of weft threads, and an inoperative position retracted from saidreversing loop, said arresting needle being moved to said inoperativeposition before said reed means beats the respective group into the fellof the fabric.

1. Needle loom for pile fabrics, comprising a weft inserting needle onone side of said loom reciprocable into and out of warp sheds formed bytight warp threads and by loose warp threads, for inserting groups ofweft threads; reed means reciprocable in warp direction between a fullbeat up position for beating said groups of weft threads into the fellof the woven fabric and a partial beat-up position which leaves thefirst inserted weft threads of said group spaced from said fell of thefabric; a tying needle located at said one side of said warp sheds;drive means for reciprocating said tying needle in said warp direction;and control means connecting said drive means with said tying needle forvarying the magnitude of the amplitude of reciprocation of said tyingneedle at least in one direction to conform to the positions of saidreed means so that said tying needle has a first position substantiallyaligned with a weft thread in the partially beaten-up position, and asecond position substantially aligned with the fell of the fabric. 2.Needle loom as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means vary theamplitude of reciprocation of said tying needle so that the end of saidtying needle moves during the insertion of the first weft threads of agroup to the line along which said reed means beats said first weftthreads, said line being spaced from the fell of the fabric, whileduring beating of the last weft thread of said group and of the entiregroup into the fell of the fabric, said end of said tying needle movesat least substantially to said fell of said fabric.
 3. Needle loom asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means include rotary cam means,and linkage means including cam follower means cooperating with saidrotary cam means; and wherein said control means include a pivotallymounted support lever fixedly connected with said tying needle forreciprocation, toggle lever means connecting said linkage with saidsupport lever, control cam means driven in timed relation with said reedmeans, and control cam follower means cooperating with said control cammeans and connected with said toggle lever means for varying theamplitude of reciproaction of said support lever with said tying needle.4. Needle loom as claimed in claim 1 comprising stripper means forstripping the newly formed loop from said tying needle during movementof the latter in said warp direction, toward the fell of the fabric. 5.Needle loom as claimed in claim 4 wherein said stripper means includes ametal strip located between said tying needle and said one side of saidwarp sheds.
 6. Needle loom as claimed in claim 4 including firstoperating means for reciprocating said stripper means to follow themovements of said tying needle.
 7. Needle loom as claimed in claim 6wherein the reciprocating movement of said stripper means is controlledby said operating means to conform to the movements of said reed means.8. Needle loom as claimed in claim 6 and comprising an arresting needleon the other side of said warp sheds; and second operating means forreciprocating said arresting needle between an operative positionlocated in the reversing loop of the first inserted weft thread of agroup of weft threads, and an inoperative position retracted from saidreversing loop, said arresting needle being moved to said inoperativeposition before said reed means beats the respective group into the fellof the fabric.
 9. Needle loom as claimed in claim 8 and including ashaft extending across said warp sheds, and first and second turnablebushings on said shaft supporting said stripper means and said arrestingneedle on said shaft For angular movement; and wherein said first andsecond operating means are connected with said first and secondbushings, respectively.
 10. Needle loom as claimed in claim 1 andcomprising an arresting needle on the other side of said warp sheds; andoperating means for reciprocating said arresting needle between anoperative position located in the reversing loop of the first insertedweft thread of a group of weft threads, and an inoperative positionretracted from said reversing loop, said arresting needle being moved tosaid inoperative position before said reed means beats the respectivegroup into the fell of the fabric.